Jennifer Aniston may look like the girl next door—but she reportedly doesn't spend like her. The Daily Mail claims that the actress, 43, drops $8,000 a month, or a whopping $141,037 a year, to maintain her gorgeous, yet low-key look. Her no-expenses-spared routine reportedly includes $450 neck ointment by Euoko, $350 Mila Moursi Rejuvenating Serum, $600 haircuts from Chris McMillan, and $900 worth of yoga sessions (each week!) with Mandy Ingber.

Now, we're not 100 percent sold on this breakdown of Jen's beauty budget (receipts, anyone?), but we're certain that we don't have anywhere near that kind of disposable income. However, we do know when to splurge—and when to save. (Hint: although we love our high-end mascaras, we're all about drugstore wands, especially since you're meant to replace them every few months.)

As a recent college grad, my bank account doesn't exactly overfloweth, so I'm always searching for creative ways to survive a perpetually dismal economy. I pack my lunch instead of buying it, buy toilet paper in bulk, and have switched from bottled water to Brita. The only area left to economize was beauty, so I tested the advice of various do-it-yourself articles and gave these three homemade treatments a whirl:

Cathryn Sullivan, my mother, is a bargain hunter. She has never purchased any article of clothing at full price, has always bought Suave body wash and lotion, VO5 and Pantene shampoos; when she shops at department store beauty counters it is only when they have a free gift with purchase and she supplements her pricey supplies with drugstore buys. But this is to be expected, right? Like me, like most women, my mother shops smart because frankly she has to; and she is no worse off for it.

That body-conscious Hervé Léger bandage dress—which Rachel Bilson sports so effortlessly above—seemed like a great New Year's Eve outfit when you bought it, but now it's so tight across your bloated stomach that you're feeling body self-conscious. Bodies hold water like a sponge, and thanks to diet or PMS, some women can weigh up to ten pounds more than usual. If looking like a parade float isn't part of your plans, you can either double up on Spanx—or de-bloat in time for tonight's festivities with these day-of tips:

Reduce your sodium intake. That means steering clear of processed foods, especially canned soups and frozen dinners. Some people also swell from wheat or dairy products, so avoid those too. (It's just one day. And it's a really good dress, right?)

Drink at least eight glasses of water, which can help flush out excess fluids.

Avoid foods labeled "low-carb" that use sugar alcohols as sweeteners—these can cause stomach bloating. (Look for "-ol" endings on ingredients, such as sorbitol.) And it's not just food; even many "sugar-free" breath mints contain the culprits.

When you're not having water, drink tea. The moderate amount of caffeine acts as a natural diuretic, and won't give you the jitters that a grande coffee will. (Under no circumstances should you take diuretic pills—they can cause weakness, fatigue, heart irregularities, and fainting spells...not exactly an ideal night out.)

Despite the cold weather, many of us will attend our holiday parties in sparkly mini dresses that show more than a little leg. Follow these tips to keep your legs looking hot even in the coldest weather:

When I was in high school, I didn't know anything about makeup (thanks, three older brothers!), so I went to a fancy makeup counter and got the what's what from a saleswoman. After that, my otherwise extremely cheap self was regularly spending my hard-earned teen minimum wage on $45 concealer palettes. I was terrified of going off-script and experimenting, and I was convinced that department store makeup was better than drugstore because it was more expensive. Once I got more comfortable with makeup though (in part thanks to a certain magazine subscription), I took more chances, got better at assessing products, and realized that some cheap thrills were just as amazing. My current makeup routine combines high and low: L'Oreal Double Lash Extend Extension Effect Mascara (I just use the black side for day, white and black for night), Hard Candy Nobody's Perfect Concealer Palette, and a Chanel eye shadow. For Allure's Best of Beauty, there's an amazing list of our ultimate picks for under $9. Do you mix high and low-priced products? What are some of your cheap thrills?

If you like Lorac products, you're going to love the VIP Discount section of their website—where lip glosses, eye shadows, and palettes are marked down to shockingly low prices. (We're talking three bucks for the company's cult Lip Polishes.) A few of the products we suggest picking up:

"I'm such a lover of dark smoky eyes. And I have literally created them on the go (in a cab, to be precise) with Lorac's cute little On Screen Duo in Fame & Fortune. The jar contains an inky black cream that works as liner and eye shadow, plus shimmery champagne-colored powder shadow that’s perfect for blending. At only $7 (it's regularly $24), it's a sexy bargain." —Angelique Serrano, beauty editor

“When I was 14 years old, I went to Sephora and bought my first beauty product, Lorac Lip Polish in Shine, a clear gloss. Now I love the fun Groovy Fruit shade (now $3; regularly $17.50); it’s really thick so it gives intense color that lasts.” —Sophia Panych, editorial assistant

“The Front of the Line Liquid Eyeliner (now $10; regularly $20) is like a pen, which makes it so easy to use. It has a nice pointy tip that creates a thin, clean line.” —Elizabeth Siegel, associate beauty editor

We're not one to pass up a sale, especially on pricey skin care, so we were excited to hear about Caudalie's upcoming online event. From this Thursday, June 17, through Monday, June 21, the brand is offering 20%-off every single one of its anti-aging potions on caudalie-usa.com (don't forget to enter the code SUMMERSALE at checkout to get the discount). If you'd like a little help in perusing the site, here are a few of our favorite offerings:

"Caudalie Organic Grape Water moisturizing spray is one of my summer beauty secrets. Made from organic grape extract, the mist is a cool wake-me-up I can use as a toner, or over makeup. I spritz my face whenever I want to look perky and refreshed." —Angelique Serrano, beauty editor

"Caudalie Vinexpert Riche Radiance Day Cream SPF 10 feels so silky going on, that I've been known to use the SPF-infused formula in both the morning and evening. It has a great, light texture that keeps my skin hydrated without feeling the least bit heavy or greasy—a major plus in the summer!" —Liz Siegel, associate editor

"Caudalie Premier Cru's rich anti-aging formula works especially well as a night cream, but it's not overwhelmingly heavy. Plus the smell is great—a pretty, light rose fragrance that's not at all old lady." —Kayleigh Donahue, assistant editor

As beauty editors, try every hair product out there. And some of the ones that we're most loyal to come from our local drugstore. Here are a few of our favorites, all for under $7.

Pantene Pro-V Always Smooth 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner. "Sometimes 2-in-1's aren't everyone's cup of tea, but this one leaves dull hair feeling so soft and full that I buy another well before my current bottle runs out." —Angelique Serrano, beauty editor

While there are plenty of reasons to look forward to this week—warm weather, a long weekend, the unofficial start of summer (we could go on...)—we'd like to point out something beauty-related to add to the list: the Allure Beauty Box. This tote is packed with 11 full-size bottles and tubes of our favorite summer essentials, like Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion with SPF 70 for face, Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Sun-Damage Daily Moisture Lotion SPF 28, and John Frieda Frizz-Ease Smooth Start Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner—plus Stila's Lip Glaze Collection, with gorgeously juicy spring gloss colors. The entire package is worth over $200, but it will only cost you $39.99. And the best part? Five bucks from each purchase will be donated to the Skin Cancer Foundation. To get your hands on one, visit the Allure Virtual Store starting May 25 at 12:01 EDT.